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How to Write a Book Review

By Kori Morgan, eHow Contributor

-last updated October 16, 2014

Whether you've read a compelling tale of fiction or a scholarly academic text, writing a book

review allows you to share your insights on a work of literature. Commonly written as an

assignment for college courses, a book review goes beyond merely summarizing the text's ideas

to evaluate the author's success in communicating a message. Describing the primary themes,

strengths and weaknesses of a book using specific examples can help you write a review that will

entice your audience to read it for themselves.

Give the Book's Background

o To orient readers to the book's subject matter and genre, reviews typically begin with a summary

of its contents. Give a brief description of its plot or ideas, being careful not to give away too

much information or spoil key parts of the action. Since your audience might not have read the

book, you only need to provide a taste of what it's about, not a lengthy summary. You can also

include key details about the author, including how the book fits into his overall body of work,

its success in reaching its target audience and how the title of the book gives clues about its

theme or subject.

Critique the Content

o The bulk of your review should be a discussion of the author's ideas and writing craft. For the

most part, your evaluation will answer the question of whether or not the book lives up to the

expectations its title, plot and genre seem to present. If you're reviewing a work of fiction, you

might consider how the author uses character development, tension and plot to engage audiences

with the story; if it's a biography or scholarly text, you can discuss the position it takes on the

topic or address any significant omissions. As you evaluate, give specific examples from the text

that illustrate its strengths and weaknesses.

Evaluate the Research

o The use of reliable, accurate sources and information can often make or break a book's

credibility. If you're reviewing a scholarly text, part of your review will focus on what references

the author uses, his research process and how well he uses information from sources to convince

readers of his views or conclusions. You also might address whether the book breaks new ground

in its field. Discussion of research also has its place in reviews of fiction. For example, if you're

reviewing a novel set in a particular historical era, you can write about how well or how poorly

the author creates a believable context for the fictional events.

Give Concluding Comments

o Book reviews frequently conclude with a summary of the article's main ideas, with a particular

focus on what audiences will most gain from reading it. If you're reviewing a scholarly text or

work of nonfiction, you might discuss whether it would be most appropriate for readers who are

new to the subject or established experts in the field. If the book is a novel or collection of

stories, you can talk about the strength of the story and its ability to emotionally affect readers.

End the piece by restating your overall evaluation of the book.

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